Yesterday, a long post was published on the Facebook account of the Municipality of Arandjelovac denying the information from the media that the steam bath and swimming pool under the Arcades in Bukovička Banja were demolished in order to build a multi-story hotel instead. They claim that the media misled the public, and in particular they claim that the published photos are forgeries.
The media have been writing about the demolition of the aforementioned buildings in the cultural and historical complex Park Bukovička Banja in Arandjelovac since Wednesday. First, it was reported that the excavators, parked in Bukovički Park, were waiting for the order to demolish, and then everything that was happening in that part of Arandjelovac was reported day by day, and conversations with various experts on the subject were published.
In the meantime, a protest against the demolition was organized in Arandjelovac, the protesters had close contact with the mayors, and social networks were full of photos of both the current demolition and those from family albums, and above all, they were full of negative comments.
The Ministry of Culture and Information also expressed its opinion, with a warning that "the work can be carried out only in accordance with the conditions and with the consent of the competent Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Kragujevac".
However, the Municipality of Arandjelovac in its announcement calls the demolition alleged, says that the steam bath "has nothing to do with the existing facilities that are being reconstructed", and that the Arcades "will not be demolished". The only thing that is true, writes the Municipality, is that the works on the renovation of the "Šumadija" hotel have begun, which, to the "joy of the majority of Arandjelov residents" will become "a true modern facility as it once was." , finally be reconstructed."
Who is right here? The media and their photos and texts, or the Municipality and its authority?
"The bathroom and the swimming pool have already been demolished, and now we are fighting to preserve the Arcades," architect Slađana Milovanović, who, together with academic painter Ana Đorđević, has been pointing out the destruction of cultural assets in the city for years, told the "Vremena" portal.
He says that neither the bathroom nor the pool were devastated, as the Municipality claims. "All you have to do is remove the dust with your hand and the white marble will appear." It's just that they have the fate of innumerable valuable and unrepeatable objects that have been neglected and left at the mercy of time, lest they collapse on their own and be demolished."
Photo: FoNetArandjelovac Arcade, September 30
Slađana Milovanović adds that the claim of the Municipality that the Arcades will not be demolished is not correct, because they will leave only their frontal part, as a backdrop, in order to satisfy the requirement of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments that the face of the building must remain authentic.
Slađana Milovanović says that all legal procedures have been met. "The investor was issued a building permit in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Planning and Construction, and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. obliged him to comply with the given conditions. The only problem is that no one controls these agreements anymore."
According to the Detailed Regulation Plan, part of the Park's public space was turned into a private space, it was sold to Radovan Milojević, the owner of the supermodern factory "Stublina" for the production of fittings for the swivel tilt of opening tiles, locks, doorknobs, hinges, universal door closers... and the hotels "Šumadija" and " Staro zdanje", an outdoor swimming pool in the Bukovička spa park and the restaurant "Lovački dom" in Bukulja, which, according to an article by Miša Brkić in "Danas", he bought for 1,75 million euros. The day after the purchase, Milojević donated the "Old Building" to the city of Arandjelovac. However, it later turned out that the Municipality bought that gift from Milojević for 526.000 euros.
All of this, of course, is just a passing story within the context of the demolition of a cultural monument.
"To make the damage worse, apart from the buildings themselves, that part of the park is also called into question, because the hotel includes the infrastructure, the access and similar things that imply damage to the appearance of the park, and probably the cutting of some trees," says Milovanović.
Slađana Milovanović and Ana Đokić managed to schedule a meeting with the President of the Municipality, trying to save what could be saved. However, on Friday, instead of Bojan Radović, his deputy appeared and conveyed the president's promise that the Arcade would not be demolished.
"We will see if he fulfills his promise." During the previous years, we wrote and talked to all the institutions responsible for this type of work and received the answer "we are not competent" from most of them, and even from the construction inspection, says Milovanović.
Bukovički Park is a cultural and natural monument under state protection. "That means it must not be touched." However, in 2015, the geodetic coordinates of the space were changed and, after that, says Milovanović, "he could do whatever he wanted. For example, the Environmental Impact Assessment Study is still under public review, and the developer has been approved for the works. It's not according to the regulations."
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